June 01, 2014

Leadership Communications - Meme of Employment Dominates

"Today, employment is the most important issue in the world." - Danny Crichton, Tech Crunch. Here is that article.

When leaders focus on employment, immediately their speeches, opinion-editorials, white papers and books cast spells. A force field of attention is created. The urgency of the subject affects all generations.

When leaders don't, at least, devote a portion of their communications to work they lack credibility. Audiences wonder: What planet have those leaders been living on for the past decade?

The trick for leaders is to make their statements and prose authentic. That means no off-the-shelf presentation of the "problem" and the possible solutions. No trotting out the familiar statistics. Yes, they have to do a deep data dive. Also, there must be empathy. Personal anecdotes about their own struggle finding and keeping work have to capture the hybrid of emotions, ranging from magical thinking to despair.

The opportunity is obvious: Leaders who can generate a fresh conversation about employment will have the power to execute their vision - about whatever.